Berlin

“Berlin culture is what drew me here. Though it can be frustrating at times, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”* (*Quote in a recent USA Today article on Berlin’s airport project, Berlin’s Bungled Airport Belies German Efficiency.) That is a common sentiment heard throughout Berlin from those like myself who have moved to […]

Cities are often the first place refugees and asylum seekers land. Governments alone have trouble handling the influx of those in need and often welcome practical help from private organizations, including churches. Here is a closer look at the challenges Berlin faces as they stretch their resources and seek to welcome those from Africa and […]

There are no shortages of things to celebrate here in Berlin. You need not look far to find something to celebrate. Since being here I have or have known people who have celebrated things like: Poetry – celebrating local poets by listening to their work Music – celebrating the wonder of original songs at open […]

When young adults take church trips to other countries, they usually think about all the ways that they are going to help and make a difference in the lives of others. For Trek7 participant Amy, her experience was, unexpectedly, quite the opposite. The local leaders and Christians, who actually wanted to take the time to […]

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. day in the U.S. on January 19, we are posting an excerpt of the inspiring sermon he gave during a brief pass into East Berlin while visiting West Berlin fifty years ago. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. East Berlin, Marienkirche September 13, 1964 “We have found ourselves literally […]

A failing mall adds fuel to the passionate debate about Berlin nightlife, cultural enterprise and the evolving nature of a recovering city. This pithy article from The Atlantic’s City Lab gives context for the controversy and reveals concerns many have about the direction of Berlin’s emerging urban identity. In Berlin, a Shopping Mall’s Flop Leads to […]

“What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out.” John 1:5 from the Message Celebrating the Light we have in Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas from Berlin!

A while ago we shared Forbes Top Ten list of the world’s most influential cities. Forbes recognizes that size is no longer the predominant factor for determining a city’s power. What matters today is influence and pull ­– which any city can have, regardless of size. Explore the Global Power City Index and see why Berlin now ranks as the […]

It’s ironic that the quest for a better life often draws people to the city, yet the result of so many diverse people living close to one another isn’t exactly neat and orderly. What lies beneath this chaos? A shared desire for fulfillment – good health, security, justice, career aspirations, prosperity and even a level of […]

Berlin is well-known for its history, the former wall and simply as the capital of Germany. But this is not all the city boasts. Did you know that: Berlin is Germany’s greenest city? Parks, woods, rivers, lakes and waterways cover 44 percent of the city. there are more than 180 museums in Berlin? The East […]